Autoweek editors name Chevrolet Corvette Best in Show at NAIAS: Best Concept, Most Significant, Most Fun from Detroit auto show also announced

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After attending 59 Detroit auto-show vehicle reveals, Autoweek editors holed up in a room at One Autoweek tower and debated their picks for the show's Editors' Choice Awards.

After nearly an hour of discussion, voting and horse-trading, we named the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray as Best in Show, the Hyundai HCD-14 as Best Concept, the Ford Atlas concept as Most Significant and the Audi RS7 Sportback as Most Fun.

You can watch our full debate on each in an upcoming video series, but for now, here's our explanation behind the picks:

&#8220;On rare occasions, at least one car premieres at an auto show that absorbs all the light and air in the building, that takes our breath away, and takes every one of our editors&#8217; votes without debate,&#8221; said Editor Wes Raynal.

The all-new C7 Corvette was, in short, our lights-out choice for Best in Show -- the car we'll easily remember from this show five years hence.

“On rare occasions, at least one car premieres at an auto show that absorbs all the light and air in the building, that takes our breath away, and takes every one of our editors' votes without debate,” said Editor Wes Raynal. “The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is that car.”

Others considered: None

The HCD-14, the latest in Hyundai&#8217;s long line of conceptual offerings, could eventually become the next Genesis sedan in production guise.

The HCD-14, the latest in Hyundai's long line of conceptual offerings, could eventually become the next Genesis sedan in production guise -- and that would take the Korean automaker to yet another level of sophistication in styling as well as technological prowess.

“You look at this elegant sedan and say, 'That's a Hyundai?' This is a gorgeous concept car,” said Davey G. Johnson, senior online editor.

Look past the Atlas concept's obvious truck styling for the real story in all the aerodynamic improvements and weight-saving high-strength steel parts.

“When the Atlas arrives as the 2015 Ford F-150 pickup, it will be a game-changer in terms of fuel economy in the segment,” said Bob Gritzinger, executive editor. “And if aluminum replaces steel, as rumored, the significance of the Atlas grows astronomically.”

The Audi RS7 Sportback's combination of panache and power earned it our Most Fun award.

About the Detroit auto show

Superior performance and styling usually catch our attention when it comes to contenders for our Most Fun award. While the unusual Corvette LS9-powered Destino collaboration from Henrik Fisker and Bob Lutz turned our heads -- and the Mercedes E63 AMG's 3.5-second 0-60-mph time will snap them back -- ultimately it was the Audi RS7's combination of panache and power that earned our nod.

The annual North American International Auto Show, better known as the Detroit auto show, has maintained its place as a barometer for the entire industry. For 2013, NAIAS takes place Jan. 14-27 and will host concept cars, green cars and supercars from all the major automakers, including what's expected to be a highlight this year: the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. Check out Autoweek's complete coverage of the Detroit auto show here.